Page 34 of Christian Clause

“When do we leave and return?”

I frown, wondering what’s wrong. “Thursday. We’ll be back on Sunday.”

She nods and slightly turns toward the door. “If that’s all...”

“Hope, please wait,” I call before she opens the door. Crossing the short distance between us, I walk up to her and search her stony face.

“Hope, I’m sorry I was short with you earlier.”

She shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. You’re the boss.”

“No. It matters. I didn’t mean to speak to you curtly. You caught me at a bad moment.”

“Obviously,” she mutters.

Never in my life have I felt the need to explain myself to a woman before. But now, I desperately want Hope to know and believe nothing is going on between me and Katherine.

I place my hands on her shoulders, but she shrugs them off and moves away. Frustrated, I run my fingers through my hair.

“Hope, Katherine is an old friend. I’m helping her with something I can’t tell right now because it’s a matter of confidentiality.”

Hope folds her arms across her chest, which pushes up her breasts, but I don’t think she realizes it as there is still coldness in her eyes I don’t like.

“You don’t have to explain things to me. It’s none of my business.”

I shake my head. “Hope, it is my business when you get upset with me. I hurt you and I’m sorry.”

When she still stares at me, I get desperate. I want her to smile at me and tease me the way she used to. I understand now that Hope is beginning to mean much more to me than I thought. I have never been so worked up about a woman believing me before or desiring her to smile at me. More and more entranced by her by the minute, I throw away my work ethics and say, “Let me make it up to you. Let’s go out. We could go to Denver and have a pleasant time in the city.”

She drops her arms. “I have work to do.”

Grinning, I say, “Didn’t you just say I’m the boss?”

She still doesn’t smile, and I let out a frustrated sigh.

“Fine. I want you to take the day off.”

She nods and turns around. “I’ll get my things and go home.”

I gently place my hand on her arm and whirl her around. “I’m trying to make it up to you, Hope. I have never given a damn whether a woman believes my explanation in the past. Please accept my apology and don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”

As she stares at me with indecision in her eyes, I take a step back from her and allow her to make up her mind. I have apologized and explained and even offered to take her out. It’s the best I think I can do. For now, at least.

“And you promise to keep your hands to yourself?” she asks with narrowed eyes.

Laughter booms from my throat. I can’t promise that, not when I want to draw her into my arms right now.

“I promise not to do what you don’t want me to do.”

I can see she’s fighting whether she should forgive me and move beyond the uncomfortable situation.

“That’s not an answer,” Hope says.

I shrug. “It’s the only one I can give.”

She nods and turns away. I’m not having any of that. I drag her into my arms and fasten my lips on hers. She struggles, but I hold her firm.

Solemnly, I say. “You’re the only woman I want to be with. If you can’t believe that, then there’s no point in our trying to get to know each other anymore.”

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